Vaux le Vicomte: Dinner by Candlelight, Dessert by Fireworks

Less than an hour from Paris is Château Vaux-le-Vicomte, the largest privately owned estate in all of France. The château was built by French finance minister Nicolas Fouquet in the mid-17th century. Fouquet, a wealthy marquis and viscount known for his appreciation for fine arts, assembled the most talented professionals to design and build his baroque property: architect Louis Le Vau, decorator Charles LeBrun and landscape architect André Le Nôtre, who designed the remarkable 33 acres of French-style gardens, adorned with fountains, waterfalls and statues. The château is capped with an impressive dome that can be ascended for unparalleled views of the entire estate. This design trio created one of the most spectacular homes ever built in Europe and it remains so to this very day.

Fouquet hosted only one grand fête at Vaux-le-Vicomte. On the fateful evening of August 17, 1661, Fouquet may have intended to welcome King Louis XIV and his court as his guests, but his plan backfired when the jealous Sun King caught a glimpse of Vaux-le-Vicomte. Soon afterward Fouquet was charged with theft and arrested in a complex ruse designed to oust him from office and Vaux-le-Vicomte. Vaux-le-Vicomte was then seized and held as property of the state.

You can learn more about this fascinating property and Fouquet’s fate by attending one of the special candlelight dinners held at Vaux-le-Vicomte Saturday nights annually from May through October. You’ll unravel the medieval mysteries of the Court of the Sun King and discover what befell Fouquet, the jealous king, and the role the Musketeers played in this drama.

Start with a golf cart ride around the enormous property, an exciting way to admire the very first “French-style gardens” and the inspiration for Versailles. See the Round Pool, The Skillet Canal with its grottos flanked by figures of gods Tiber, Anqueuil and Hercules. Grab your camera to capture the reflection of the entire château in the Great Water Mirror. Don’t miss the carriage museum filled with old horse-drawn vehicles.

As dusk settles, 2,000 candles are lit to recreate the atmosphere of Fouquet’s August 1661 fête. It’s the perfect moment to savor a glass of Henriot Champagne on the terrace, sold for a very reasonable 10€.

Take a seat at Les Charmilles restaurant for dinner on the terrace overlooking the thousands of candles that flicker in the garden at your feet. Chef Laurent Asset's menu has various formules ranging from 30€ for an exquisite Entrée+Plat for 45€ that includes coupe de Champagne, entrée, plat, dessert, and un verre de vin is exquisite. Choose from entrées of Terrine de Foie Gras aux deux Asperges, Salade de Saint Jacques en Coques de Pamplemousse, Les Plats ofCanon d'Agneau, Pavé d'Espadon and Penne à la Crème de Truffes Blanches with Homard Flambé. For dessert choose from entremet chocolat framboise and a selection of glaces and sorbets. There is also a menu enfant to keep the little ones happy.

The wine list is well thought-out, with the most expensive option a superb Saint Emilion Château Bellevue Figeac 2008 priced at 36€. At the low end you may order a Rosé de Provence cave de Saint Tropez 2009 for 16€.

The atmosphere is relaxed, and much laughter abounds in between savoring the delectable dishes.

After coffee take a stroll to walk off the calories and head back to tour the interior rooms of Château itself, where candles placed throughout create an authentic 17th century experience.

Audio guides are available in seven languages or you can organize your own private guide (must be booked in advance). Allow about 90 minutes so you can watch and listen to the lifelike animated displays. Visit the jail in the cellar and of course the kitchen with its great display of pans and utensils used to create many amazing feasts held over the years at Vaux-le-Vicomte.

At the end of the evening, walk to the top of the Château steps for a last admiring look at the gardens lit so hauntingly by the sparkling candles. And wait until 11:00pm when the sky will explode in a riot of fireworks, just as happened on that August evening in the 17th century.

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